Four league defeats in a row was hardly how West Ham expected to start the 2018-19 campaign with Mauricio Pellegrino at the helm, as possibly the highest profile coach to take charge of the team in recent years, having already proven himself in English football during a successful spell at Man City.

If results for the Hammers don’t begin to drastically improve, with the only victory thus far coming against League One side AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup, it seems inevitable that David Sullivan and David Gold will have itchy fingers ready to press the eject button. However, given the expensive outlay to appoint Pellegrini and his backroom staff, neither will want to be too hasty before we reach the midway point of the season, at the very least.

That might suggest the experienced Chilean could be given a little more time to steer things in the right direction, but the doubts will continue to remain ahead of the team facing another troubled opponent at the end of September. Not only is the team playing far beneath the level expected by the fans, but even the most optimistic supporters are pondering when the first three points of the season will arrive.

Everton away and Chelsea at home are the next opponents for the Hammers, and if current form is anything to go by, Pellegrini’s men might still be rooted to the foot of the table after those games. Next up is another EFL Cup tie against lower league opposition, when Macclesfield Town visit the London Stadium, before Man Utd visit in the Premier League. By that time, the fate of Pellegrini might already be decided, in the worst-case scenario.

After what is considered to be a poor start of their own with two defeats and two wins, title odds on Man Utd to win league 2019 continue to lengthen and particularly in the betting exchange markets, amidst continued speculation that Jose Mourinho may not see out the season with the Red Devils, if team performances and results don’t improve.

The minimum expectation at Old Trafford is that United must finish in the top four, amidst the Champions League qualification spots, if not challenge for the Premier League title. Nevertheless, Mourinho remains bullish that not only will he see out the campaign, but his team will start to find their rhythm.

Waiting in the wings, should Mourinho be given the push, apparently, is former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, who has hinted that he’ll “soon” be returning to management. The 46-year-old shook the football world with his departure from the Santiago Bernabéu during the summer, even after leading his former side to a third consecutive Champions League triumph last season.

Meanwhile, another former Real Madrid boss, currently in charge at West Ham, may also be facing a ticking clock when it comes to his future. Pellegrini needs to find the solutions to current problems, sooner rather than later, or face what could be his shortest managerial stint in the last decade of his career, other than his ill-fated spell during the 2009-10 season in the Spanish capital.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.